Tarlac youth urged to use socmed vs HIV, TB

TARLAC

CITY -- The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) urged the youth of Tarlac to use social media in combating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB).

In his message during the fourth leg of Kilos Kabataan Kontra HIV at TB virtual forum, PIA Regional Director William Beltran emphasized the role of youth in this campaign.

"We’ve seen our youth capitalize on taking advantage of the good the internet or the social media can provide us. Please use that platform responsibly to your advantage and use it to empower other people through accurate, timely, and relevant information that could save other people’s lives," he sai d.

The official furthered that as much as the government exerts its efforts in combating these illnesses amid the pandemic, it needs additional warriors to spread awareness of these d i seases.

“The government sees our young people as driving forces in at least mitigating all of these challenges. A lot of people have been assisting our government in terms of responding to Covid-19 in its efforts and initiatives to reopen the economy, but we need more, especially our youth," Beltran added.

With this, he enjoined the youth to help the government communications sector to disseminate relevant and useful information, not only on TB and HIV, but information that could somehow ease the burden of the people in gen er al .

“We are really banking on the capacity and ingenuity of the youth to utilize their respective platforms for this advocacy. Always believe that no matter how small your contribution could be, even just with the power of information, it could make a difference in our society,” he said.

About 150 students of Tarlac State University and Tarlac Agricultural University participated in the fourth leg of Kilos Kabataan Kontra HIV at TB virtual forum co-organized by Philippine Information Agency and United States Agency for International Development TB Platforms (USAID’s TB Platforms) in partnership with Department of Health and the provincial government of Tar l ac.

Resource persons in the webinar include DOH Regional HIV Program Manager Joseph Michael Manlutac, USAID’s TB Platforms Operations and Area Manager for Central Luzon Rhodora Cruz, USAID’s TB Platforms Social and Behavior Change Communication Specialist Diwata Paredes, and Cavite Positive Action Group Executive Director Joseph Honra.

(PIA 3)